Ep. 605 - Applied AI Labs COO Mike Fedorov - Autopilot Is the Enemy of Excellence

Most operators never learn to fight autopilot, the quiet enemy of excellence.In this episode, Lindsay Smith sits down with Mike Fedorov, COO of Applied AI Labs. With 26 years in operations and supply chain, as a former Accenture Director and Mars operations leader, Mike built his reputation staying on-site, in the detail, close to where the work breaks.He shares his philosophy that a COO's first job is to keep the lights on, and the second is to keep them on better, explaining why flat structures are replacing layers of management, how AI works best as a coordination layer, and the defining power of mentorship in his career.Sponsored by:STS Capital Partners - Your expert guides on the journey to an Extraordinary Exit™. To learn more about STS Capital Partners and how they achieve maximum value by Selling to Strategics™, complete the inquiry form here: https://stscapital.com/coo-alliance/Timestemped Highlights00:00 The Future of Flat Organizational Structures01:44 What Applied AI Labs Does02:38 The COO's Real Job: Keep the Lights On, and Better05:11 A COO Who Watches Two Operations at Once08:08 Scaling After Excelling: The Contractor Approach09:18 Why Flat Structures Are Replacing Layers of Management11:01 What Big Companies Get Right About Operations12:45 Nimbleness vs. Routine: Autopilot as the Enemy of Excellence16:06 How AI Actually Helps Operations: The Coordination Layer18:44 AI as a Copilot, Not a Replacement20:06 AI in Recruiting: What Works and What Fails27:34 Defining Moments: The Power of Mentorship30:52 How to Find and Structure Mentorship38:55 What's Next for Applied AI Labs43:55 Personal Growth: Knowing What You Don't KnowAbout the guestMike has 26 years of experience in operations and supply chain, as a former Accenture Director and, before that, leading operations planning and execution for Mars. He has run and turned around operations for some of the most complex and demanding companies in the world, and has saved major clients that were ready to walk. He leads engagements the way he has always worked: on-site, in the detail, close to the people who know where the work breaks. Operators trust Mike because he has done their job.Mentioned ResourcesMarsAccentureAbout the Co-HostLindsay Smith is an experience-driven growth strategist and former Chief Strategy Officer. She previously scaled a new region without a traditional sales team or bloated marketing budget by turning relationships, culture, and execution into revenue. She is the author of No One Needs Another Company Mug, Stop Branding, Start Experiencing, and helps leadership teams use experience as a competitive growth lever.Important LinksConnect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInExplore the COO Alliance – The World’s Leading Community for Seconds in CommandGet Cameron’s book: Second in Command, Unleash the Power of Your COO BookClaim your FREE copy: Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO BookTake his course: Invest In Your Leaders Online Course (Use promo code PODCAST10 before the end of the month for 10% off)Chat or video call with AI Cameron via Delphi